Senate not ‘anywhere close’ to a funding deal as ICE fight intensifies

WASHINGTON- Senate Republican Leader John Thune warned Thursday that Congress is not close to a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, signaling that another short-term extension may be the only way to avoid a shutdown as Democrats demand “non-negotiable” ICE reforms before a Feb. 13 deadline.

Republicans are increasingly seeking to offer full funding a second time if negotiations fail. Speaking on the Senate floor Thursday, Thune said such a move would not include any reforms previously negotiated by lawmakers, including body cameras for immigration agents.

“Right now, we’re a long way from having a deal that would allow us to fund the Department of Homeland Security,” he said. “If [Democrats] if they come to the table demanding a blank check or refuse to consider any other measures than their own, they risk finding themselves with nothing.”

He spoke hours after House and Senate Democrats announced they were backing a list of 10 demands they say must be passed before approving the Homeland Security funding package through September.

Democrats are pushing for statutory limits on immigration searches, new requirements for court warrants, body-worn cameras, identification rules for officers and increased oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection — reforms they say are needed to rein in what House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called an “out of control” agency.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats plan to move the bill as soon as possible.

“We want our Republican colleagues to finally take this issue seriously, because this is shaking up America in a way we haven’t seen in a very long time,” Schumer said.

The coordinated demands demonstrate unity between House and Senate Democrats after a difficult week at the Capitol. In a close vote, 21 House Democrats joined Republicans on Tuesday to end the partial government shutdown by temporarily extending funding for Homeland Security through February 13.

The two-week stopgap measure, called a “continuing resolution,” was intended to give both parties time to debate how to rein in ICE following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

But this truce quickly broke down. Republican leaders have little appetite for overall reforms. Some have been open to narrower changes, such as expanding body camera programs and training, but reject the mask ban and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has already ruled out warrant requirements, which would limit immigration agents from entering private property without a court order. In his remarks to reporters Wednesday, he also hinted at some interest in bringing voter ID and anti-sanctuary city policies into the negotiations.

“That will be part of the discussions over the next few weeks, and we’ll see how it evolves. But I suspect some of the changes – the procedural changes with ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – will be codified,” he said.

Johnson was confident the two sides could reach a deal without further delay, adding that negotiations are largely taking place between “the White House, Schumer and Senate Democrats.”

President Trump privately supported the short-term extension to ease tensions while publicly defending immigration agents and expressing skepticism of Democrats’ reform efforts, according to House leaders.

White House border policy adviser Tom Homan also announced this week the withdrawal of 700 federal agents from Minneapolis, which officials called a goodwill gesture amid negotiations.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Thursday that the administration was willing to consider some of the demands made by Democrats, but said some of their demands were “not based on any common sense and cannot be started for this administration.”

Leavitt did not specify what reforms the administration was willing to consider. She said, however, that the president was committed to keeping the government open and supporting “immigration control efforts in this country.”

The White House did not respond when asked whether the president would support a short-term spending measure if negotiations fail.

Republicans continue to warn that failure to reach an agreement would jeopardize funding for disaster response, airport security operations, maritime patrols and increased security assistance at major national events, including the upcoming World Cup in Los Angeles.

“If we don’t do this by the middle of next week, we should consider a continuing resolution for the rest of the year and put all of this behind us,” said Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

Democrats, however, remain adamant that verbal assurances are no longer enough.

“These are just some of the common sense proposals that the American people would clearly like to see in terms of the sweeping changes that are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before there is a full year appropriations bill,” Jeffries said.

Times Staff Writer Ana Ceballos in Washington contributed to this report.